The Federal Government says Kano State has been selected as a strategic centre for the roll-out of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).
By Muhammad Nur Tijani
The Federal Government says Kano State has been selected as a strategic centre for the roll-out of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).
Dr Saidu Dumbulwa, Director and National Coordinator of NEMSAS, disclosed this on Friday in Kano while briefing newsmen after inspecting facilities at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
He said the initiative was aimed at bridging the existing gaps in Nigeria’s health system through a coordinated ambulance and emergency response service, which he described as the “missing link” in the country’s healthcare delivery.
Ahmed explained that while Nigeria had primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, the absence of an organised emergency medical response system had contributed to avoidable maternal and neonatal mortality.
“We are in Kano because the state is very strategic to the success of this programme
“Just like Nigeria is central to Africa, without Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt, we cannot say we have started.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and with the guidance of the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, we are working with states to address this gap,” he said.
According to him, the scheme provides free emergency transportation for pregnant women and other emergencies, including paediatric cases, road traffic accidents, snake bites and surgical emergencies.
“On arrival at the hospital, patients will be treated free of charge for the first 48 hours,” Ahmed said.
He disclosed that 12 states had already been onboarded into the programme, while 19 tertiary hospitals had commenced operations.
Ahmed commended the Kano State Government and the management of AKTH for their readiness and commitment, expressing optimism that the programme would soon take off in the state.
He added that the government had also introduced the Rural Emergency and Maternal Transport Scheme (REMTS) to ensure women and children in rural areas benefited from the initiative.
“The goal is to save lives, especially among women and children, by bringing healthcare closer to the grassroots,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Prof. Abdurrahman Sheshe, said the initiative was crucial for the community as it targeted the grassroots, particularly those who could not afford transportation and emergency medical care.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Health and President Bola Tinubu for the initiative, stating other interventions in the health sector such as the free dialysis programme.
“We are grateful for your visit to Kano and we look forward to the take-off of this programme as we strongly believe it will contribute immensely to healthcare delivery in Kano and Nigeria at large,” he said.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)